A service of remembrance was held for the late George Aspinall who died peacefully at Vernon Jubilee Hospital on March 6. He was 85.

Born at Blackley, North Manchester, England on April 9, 1915, Mr. Aspinall was a long time resident of Armstrong until this past year when he moved to Vernon. During the Second World War, he served with the Royal Canadian Engineers. He worked for many years in sawmills, initially with the Smith brothers' Armstrong Sawmill, then Crown Forest and finaly at Fletcher Challenge until retirement in 1977.

He was well known for his musical talents, enjoyed by his many friends. He played the accordian and taught music for many years.

Mr. Aspinall was predeceased by his wife, Reina Petranella in 1981. He is survived by his six children, Danny (Barb) at Vancouver, Rick (Linda) at Vanderhoof, Bob (Kathie) at Surrey, Jim (Kathy) at Duncan, Kathy (Doug) Petter at Vernon, Jeanette (Doug) Baumbrough at Vernon and 16 grandchildren.

The remembrance service was held at Mountain View Chapel on March 10 at 11 a.m. with Rev. Ken Jones officiating. Interment was in the family plot of Armstrong/Spallumcheen Cemetery.

Following the service a tea was held at the chapel.

Mountain View Funeral Home was entrusted with arrangements.

A celebration of life service for the late Betty Joan Atkinson (nee Gray) will be held next Monday at 11 a.m. at the Centennial Hall.

Mrs. Atkinson, well known for her community involvement in many avenues for nearly 50 years, died Saturday afternoon at the age of 70 years.

She had been suffering a serious illness for some time.

The family has requested no flowers but instead direct donations in Mrs. Atkinson's memory to the Vernon Cancer Centre.

Details of Mrs. Atkinson's life and community accomplishments will appear in the next week's edition of The Armstrong Advertiser.

No further information was available at press time this week.

Armstrong said goodbye to a friend Monday at a memorial service for the late Betty Joan Atkinson.

Mrs. Atkinson died at her home in Armstrong on Nov. 4 after a long illness with cancer. She was 70.

The Centennial Hall was filled to standing room only to take part in a service, honoring a woman who touched the lives of just about everyone during her almost 50 years making Armstrong her home.

Tributes were made by former students, council members, educators, and friends. Special music was provided by singers Paul and Melina Moore (who also accompanied two numbers on the piano) as a token of Mrs. Atkinson's encouragement of young people to achieve their goals.

Ali Hoshizaki, a close and long-time friend of Mrs. Atkinson, was officiant for the service, calling on those who wished to speak about the contributions this 70-year-old dynamic woman made to the Okanagan Valley.

Born at Cumberland on Nov. 4, 2000, Mrs. Atkinson received her early education in that Vancouver Island community before attending the University of British Columbia. Her first teaching position was at Armstrong. Other than a year's leave of absence to travel, Mrs. Atkinson remained in Armstrong, becoming involved in all facets of community life.

In the past year, she has been honored in being named Citizen of the Year for Armstrong and Spallumcheen, a Freeman of the City of Armstrong.

Betty Gray married Howard Atkinson and they raised three children, Kathleen, Robert and William.

Bonnie Hamilton, who sat beside Mrs. Atkinson for 14 as city councillors, read a poem she had written and read originally at the city Christmas dinner last December, paying tribute to Betty Atkinson.

Eric Hornby, who had known Mrs. Atkinson while he was a student in high school, later as manager of the IPE when Mrs. Atkinson was a director and yet later as city mayor when Mrs. Atkinson served as councillor, compared the loss to this community of a Freeman to the national loss of the late Pierre Trudeau, both statesmen in their own rights. He touched on her ability to zero in on the important issues, her vision of her community, always touched with her contageous sense of humor. Through all this, Mrs. Atkinson commanded deep respect.

Mr. Hornby said she had a wonderful intellect, commitment, dedication, genacity, courage and humor.

"You are our first stateswoman," he said.

Daughter Kathleen Atkinson represented the family, fondly remembering her mother's purpose, honesty, intellect and great joy in humor. She recalled a series of "happenings" in which her mother had been a part.

John Baumbrough, a former educator, said Mrs. Atkinson has left a legacy of service, belief in her community and what it means to be a citizen.

Okanagan Regional Library's Lesley Deno, said she will be remembered most for her love of learning.

Mayor Jerry Oglow said Mrs. Atkinson taught her a lot about public speaking with three rules: be concise, be brief and be gone.

"She was a friend, my friend," he said. "The legacy she has left to the community is very significant."

IPE manager Mike McCarty said Betty Atkinson was woman totally without ego. "She had totally respect by members of the board. She earned that respect," he said.

The service concluded with refreshments, arranged especially by her friend Jackie Schofield.

Those attending the service mingled afterwards, looking at the displays of photographs of Mrs. Atkinson's involvement in many aspects of the community.

I have only known Betty Atkinson for ten years, initially as a director of the I.P.E., then as a friend. It was only earlier this year, due to her failing health, that she stepped down from our Board Executive. Now she has gone.

To say that she will be missed sounds so trite, but it is true. During the last ten years I learned to respect an honest person, free from ego, whose only goal in whatever organizations she represented was to do the best she could for it.

Was she charming? She could be.

Was she forceful? Absolutely.

Was she respected? Unquestionably.

Was she forthright? Always.

Put that together and you had a person who was truly loved and respected in this and other communities.

She laboured for twenty years on our Board and was responsible for many, many years for the Wine Division for which she took an unmerciful amount of ribbing. Especially at fair time when all the judging took place!

I know whenever I had a new idea for the Board to consider I would run it by Betty. She was a hard sell and if I could get her onside I could be assured that the idea was okay to present.

We spent hours chatting about the history of the I.P.E. and we had no better advocate for the I.P.E. on council than Councillor Atkinson.

I am already missing her and can only say on behalf of the I.P.E. condolences to her husband Howard and family from the entire I.P.E. family.

Mike McCarty, General Manager.

Armstrong Advertiser 8 Nov 2000

Back to obituary index

Back to VDFHS Home Page